enhttp://www.BerzinArchives.com/web/x/nav/group.html_1647159057.htmlIntroduction to the Sixteen Aspects of the Four Noble Truths in Sutra and TantraSat, 01 Aug 2015 03:51:50 +0100720Copyright: The Berzin Archives, www.BerzinArchives.comDr. Alexander BerzinDr. Alexander Berzinhttp://www.BerzinArchives.com/web/images/global/logo.gifIntroduction to the Sixteen Aspects of the Four Noble Truths in Sutra and Tantrahttp://www.BerzinArchives.com/web/x/nav/group.html_1647159057.html100145Introduction to the Sixteen Aspects of the Four Noble Truths in Sutra and TantraDr. Alexander BerzincleanIntroduction to the Sixteen Aspects of the Four Noble Truths in Sutra and Tantra – Part One: Main Presentationhttp://www.BerzinArchives.com/media/audio/en/hi/16_aspects_4_noble_truths_sutra_tantra_32bit/16_aspects_4_noble_truths_pt1_32bit.mp3http://www.BerzinArchives.com/media/audio/en/hi/16_aspects_4_noble_truths_sutra_tantra_32bit/16_aspects_4_noble_truths_pt1_32bit.mp3(<em><a href="http://www.BerzinArchives.com/media/audio/en/hi/16_aspects_4_noble_truths_sutra_tantra_32bit/16_aspects_4_noble_truths_pt1_32bit.mp3" style="font-size:smaller" title="Introduction to the Sixteen Aspects of the Four Noble Truths in Sutra and Tantra – Part One: Main Presentation">audio + transcript</a></em>) <br /><br />What I have been asked to speak about is the four noble truths in the Vajrayana tradition. We can look at the Vajrayana tradition in two ways, either specifically the way that the four noble truths are approached in tantra, or we can look at Vajrayana as being a way of referring to the Tibetan tradition of Buddhism which combines the study of both sutra and tantra.<br /><br /> First, I'd like to speak in terms of this common aspect – the sutra/tantra aspect – of the four noble truths, since there really isn't a separate tantra explanation of them. This is the way that it is studied in the Tibetan tradition. It is based on the Indian Mahayana tradition, which is based here on a particular text by Maitreya, who is a future Buddha; and he wrote many texts, and one of them is a great commentary on the Prajnaparamita Sutras. These are the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras, and in this there is a great deal of detail about everything concerning the path and all the realizations that one gains along the path to liberation and enlightenment. The title of the text translates as an "Ornament of Realizations" or "for Realizations," so it's lots and lots of realizations.<br /><br /> The four noble truths have sixteen aspects, four to each of the truths, and this is a topic which is the main focus of meditation on the path that leads to both liberation and enlightenment. When we speak about liberation and enlightenment, what we are referring to is that liberation is overcoming one set of obscurations which<a href="http://www.BerzinArchives.com/media/audio/en/hi/16_aspects_4_noble_truths_sutra_tantra_32bit/16_aspects_4_noble_truths_pt1_32bit.mp3" title="Introduction to the Sixteen Aspects of the Four Noble Truths in Sutra and Tantra – Part One: Main Presentation">...</a> <br /><br /><a href="http://www.BerzinArchives.com/media/audio/en/hi/16_aspects_4_noble_truths_sutra_tantra_32bit/16_aspects_4_noble_truths_pt1_32bit.mp3" style="font-size:smaller" title="Introduction to the Sixteen Aspects of the Four Noble Truths in Sutra and Tantra – Part One: Main Presentation">http://www.BerzinArchives.com/media/audio/en/hi/16_aspects_4_noble_truths_sutra_tantra_32bit/16_aspects_4_noble_truths_pt1_32bit.mp3</a>Mon, 19 Jul 2010 09:12:07 +0100Introduction to the Sixteen Aspects of the Four Noble Truths in Sutra and Tantra – Part Two: Questions and Answershttp://www.BerzinArchives.com/media/audio/en/hi/16_aspects_4_noble_truths_sutra_tantra_32bit/16_aspects_4_noble_truths_pt2_32bit.mp3http://www.BerzinArchives.com/media/audio/en/hi/16_aspects_4_noble_truths_sutra_tantra_32bit/16_aspects_4_noble_truths_pt2_32bit.mp3(<em><a href="http://www.BerzinArchives.com/media/audio/en/hi/16_aspects_4_noble_truths_sutra_tantra_32bit/16_aspects_4_noble_truths_pt2_32bit.mp3" style="font-size:smaller" title="Introduction to the Sixteen Aspects of the Four Noble Truths in Sutra and Tantra – Part Two: Questions and Answers">audio + transcript</a></em>) <br /><br />Question: Why sixteen and not fourteen or seventeen?<br /><br /> Alex: Well, there are four for each. Why there are four for each? I don't really know. On the path of seeing, the seeing pathway mind, when you become an arya, then there are sixteen phases of that, but that is not correlated with these sixteen. What you're doing there is working on, first of all, the disturbing emotions concerning the four noble truths that are associated with the desire realm. And then the disturbing emotions of the upper planes of existence, the form and formless realms, with respect to the four noble truths. And then the disturbing emotions and misunderstandings associated with each of these planes of existence – three plains of existence: desire, form, and formless realm. So you have disturbing emotions concerning these four noble truths in relation to the desire realm mind, and then disturbing emotions about the four in relation to the form and formless realm. That is eight. Now with each of these, you have a mind which is working to get rid of those disturbing emotions, and then a liberated mind that is liberated from those. So that makes two for each of the eight, so then you get sixteen. But just because they are sixteen in one list it doesn't mean that that's a reason for sixteen in another list. Why sixteen, I don't know.<br /><br /> Question: You often talked about naivety, and she wanted the interpretation of that word. Why naivety?<br /><br /> Alex: So she asked about the disturbing emotion of naivety. This<a href="http://www.BerzinArchives.com/media/audio/en/hi/16_aspects_4_noble_truths_sutra_tantra_32bit/16_aspects_4_noble_truths_pt2_32bit.mp3" title="Introduction to the Sixteen Aspects of the Four Noble Truths in Sutra and Tantra – Part Two: Questions and Answers">...</a> <br /><br /><a href="http://www.BerzinArchives.com/media/audio/en/hi/16_aspects_4_noble_truths_sutra_tantra_32bit/16_aspects_4_noble_truths_pt2_32bit.mp3" style="font-size:smaller" title="Introduction to the Sixteen Aspects of the Four Noble Truths in Sutra and Tantra – Part Two: Questions and Answers">http://www.BerzinArchives.com/media/audio/en/hi/16_aspects_4_noble_truths_sutra_tantra_32bit/16_aspects_4_noble_truths_pt2_32bit.mp3</a>Mon, 19 Jul 2010 09:14:47 +0100